Parking is the first thing to get right at Harpers Ferry. Lower Town is small, its two park lots fill fast, and navigation apps often send drivers the wrong way. Here is every lot, fee and shuttle time, checked against the National Park Service on November 8, 2026.
Know before you go
| Best place to park | Visitor Center lot, 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 (about 1,000 spaces) |
| Vehicle pass | $20, all occupants, valid 3 consecutive days — NPS fees |
| Motorcycle pass | $15, up to 2 motorcycles and 4 riders, 3 days |
| Walk-in or bike | $10 per person 16+; under 16 free; 3 days |
| Payment | No cash. Card at the entrance station or online via Recreation.gov |
| Shuttle | Every 10–15 min from 9am; last bus 5:30pm in standard time (as of Nov 2026) — NPS hours |
| Lots open | 30 min before sunrise to 30 min after sunset |
| Footbridge | Closed since July 27, 2026; Lock 34 shuttle instead |
Where should you park in Harpers Ferry?
Park at the Visitor Center at 171 Shoreline Drive and take the shuttle to Lower Town. This is what the NPS recommends. The lot has about 1,000 spaces, including 35 oversize and 24 accessible spaces, and your entrance fee covers parking there. Lower Town, by contrast, has only 117 spaces in NPS lots, and the park describes parking there as extremely limited.
The easy way: park at the Visitor Center and ride the shuttle
These five steps get you from the highway to Lower Town with the least stress.
- Navigate to the address, not the town name. Enter 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 (GPS 39.31667, -77.75639). The NPS warns that many navigation apps route drivers into town instead of the park. The entrance is on US 340 at the Harpers Ferry stoplight: coming from Frederick on US 340 South, turn left; coming from Charles Town on US 340 North, turn right.
- Pay at the entrance station, or buy ahead. The entrance station near the Visitor Center takes cards. You can also buy a digital pass on Recreation.gov before you leave home, which is handy if you will park somewhere without card payment.
- Display your pass. Put it on the dashboard. The license plate on the pass must match your vehicle.
- Ride the shuttle down. Buses leave every 10–15 minutes. They carry bikes and backpacks, but not pets.
- Note the last bus back. As of November 2026 the park is on its standard-time schedule, so the last bus is at 5:30pm. From spring to fall (daylight saving time) the last bus is at 7pm.
Prefer to walk? A trail runs from the Visitor Center to Lower Town: 1.6 miles one way, dropping about 150 feet. That means the return trip is uphill. It is also the way to go if you have a dog, since pets cannot ride the shuttle.
My advice
Even if you know the town, park at the Visitor Center and ride down. Lower Town parking is very limited, and I'd rather spend the day walking than circling for a space. Just keep an eye on the clock for the last bus back up.
How much is the Harpers Ferry entrance fee?
As of November 2026, entry costs $20 per private vehicle, $15 per motorcycle or $10 per person, and every pass is valid for three consecutive days.
| Pass | Price | What it covers | Valid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private vehicle | $20 | Everyone in the vehicle (not group tours or vans with 7+ passengers) | 3 consecutive days |
| Motorcycle | $15 | Up to 2 non-commercial motorcycles and up to 4 riders | 3 consecutive days |
| Per person (walk-in or bike) | $10 | One person aged 16 or older | 3 consecutive days |
| Children under 16 | Free | — | — |
| Harpers Ferry Annual Pass | $35 | This park only | 12 months from the month of purchase |
The two-motorcycle coverage is new for 2026. Prices come from the NPS fees page, last updated October 23, 2026.
Which America the Beautiful passes are accepted?
All of them. Harpers Ferry accepts the full America the Beautiful pass series; bring photo ID.
| Pass | Price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Resident Annual | $80 |
| Non-Resident Annual | $250 (new for 2026) |
| Senior Annual | $20 |
| Senior Lifetime | $80 |
| Military, Access, 4th Grade and Volunteer | Free |
International visitors: Harpers Ferry is not one of the 11 parks that added a $100 per-person nonresident surcharge in 2026.
How do you pay? (No cash)
The NPS states plainly that the park does not accept cash. You can pay in two ways:
- At the entrance station near the Visitor Center, by card. According to the parking page, this is the only place that takes cards in person.
- Online through Recreation.gov, before or during your visit. The Bolivar Heights, Train Station and River Access lots also collect fees, but by phone or online payment rather than in person.
When are the 2026 fee-free days?
The next fee-free day is Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and it is the last one on the 2026 list. In 2026, fee-free days apply only to US citizens and residents.
| Date (2026) | Occasion |
|---|---|
| February 16 | Presidents Day |
| May 25 | Memorial Day |
| June 14 | Flag Day |
| July 3–5 | Independence Day weekend |
| August 25 | NPS 110th birthday |
| September 17 | Constitution Day |
| October 27 | Theodore Roosevelt's birthday |
| November 11 | Veterans Day (next) |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth were dropped from the 2026 list. 2027 dates were not posted as of November 2026; check the NPS fees page.
Do you have to pay to walk around Harpers Ferry?
If you walk or bike into the national historical park, the NPS fee is $10 per person aged 16 and up. Lower Town's main sights, including The Point and John Brown's Fort, are inside the park. Paying for a town parking space does not cover the park entrance fee, so you still need a pass.
Where are all the parking lots?
There are four NPS lots open to visitors, plus three town paid-parking zones. The old Maryland Heights lots are gone for good.
| Lot | Spaces | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor Center | About 1,000 (35 oversize, 24 accessible) | 171 Shoreline Drive, off US 340 | Shuttle to Lower Town. Recommended by the NPS. Overnight permits for hikers and cyclists |
| Train Station lot | 81 | Lower Town | No shuttle stop. Fee by phone or online |
| River Access lot | 36 | US 340 at Shenandoah Street | Fee by phone or online |
| Bolivar Heights | 8 | Whitman Avenue | Trailhead parking for Bolivar Heights |
| Maryland Heights (Sandy Hook Road) | 16, closed | Maryland side | Permanently closed in 2022 |
| Town paid zones | Not published | Lower Town and town streets | ParkMobile zones 7510, 7515, 7520 |
Visiting the Appalachian Trail Conservancy? Its visitor center at 799 Washington Street has a two-hour visitor lot behind the building, reached from Storer College Place.
See every lot and trailhead with GPS points on our Harpers Ferry map page.
Can you drive into Lower Town?
Yes, but the NPS calls Lower Town parking extremely limited. The Train Station lot has 81 spaces and the River Access lot 36. Neither has a shuttle stop, and both collect the park fee by phone or online. On a busy day, expect to circle and end up back at the Visitor Center.
How does town paid parking work?
The Town of Harpers Ferry runs three paid parking zones, paid through the ParkMobile app: zones 7510, 7515 and 7520. Enforcement runs 8am to 6pm daily, and time is sold in half-hour segments. Hourly rates were not confirmed for this guide, so check the posted signs or the app. Town parking does not include the NPS entrance fee.
How does the Harpers Ferry shuttle work?
Shuttle buses run between the Visitor Center and Lower Town every 10–15 minutes on every day the park is open.
| Season | First bus | Last bus |
|---|---|---|
| Daylight saving time (March to early November) | 9am | 7pm |
| Standard time (applies as of November 2026) | 9am | 5:30pm |
- Bikes and packs are allowed on board.
- Pets are not (service animals excepted).
- The Train Station lot is not on the shuttle route.
Schedules can change, so check the NPS hours page before you go.
What is the footbridge-closure shuttle to Lock 34?
While the Goodloe Byron Memorial Footbridge is closed, the NPS runs a separate, limited shuttle from the Visitor Center to C&O Canal Lock 34 on the Maryland side. It is the only park option for reaching Maryland Heights and the towpath near town.
Footbridge closed (as of November 2026)
The footbridge has been closed since July 27, 2026 for stair replacement, and the closure was later extended for separate deck safety repairs. The NPS says it is "expected to remain closed this fall"; no reopening date has been announced.
Lock 34 shuttle:
- Runs daily, Visitor Center to Lock 34 only
- First bus 9:00am from the Visitor Center; last bus 5:30pm from Lock 34
- Round trip takes about an hour
- Limited seats; no pets
- No bike rack: 1–2 bikes at the driver's discretion
- Does not run in bad weather
- Lock 34 is 0.9 mile west of the footbridge
Commercial shuttles: River & Trail Outfitters (301-834-9950) and Shepherdstown Pedal & Paddle (304-876-3000).
Check the NPS footbridge page and ATC trail update before you go.
The full closure timeline and every detour are on our footbridge closure status page.
Can you park overnight in Harpers Ferry?
Only Appalachian Trail hikers and C&O Canal cyclists can park overnight, and only in the Visitor Center lot, for up to 14 days, with a permit. Sleeping in vehicles is not allowed, and the park has no campground or lodging. If you want to stay the night, see where to stay in Harpers Ferry.
A.T. hikers: see the Appalachian Trail in Harpers Ferry for the overnight permit and how the footbridge closure affects your crossing.
Sleeping in vehicles isn't allowed, so hikers and cyclists can compare shelters, hiker-biker sites and the hostel in our camping guide.
When do the parking lots fill up?
The NPS does not publish fill times. It says only that Lower Town parking is extremely limited and recommends the Visitor Center lot and shuttle. If you are coming on a fee-free day or a fall weekend, arriving early is the safe bet.
What if you have a dog, a bike or a big vehicle?
- Dogs: Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet and cannot ride the shuttle or enter park buildings (service animals excepted). Walk the 1.6-mile trail from the Visitor Center, or try for a Lower Town lot.
- Bikes: Bikes can ride the shuttle. In the park, you can ride only on roads open to cars, never on trails, and the downhill lane of Shoreline Drive is closed to bikes. E-bikes are allowed wherever bikes are.
- RVs and oversize vehicles: The Visitor Center lot has 35 oversize spaces. Lower Town lots are not a good bet.
More pet rules, dog-friendly trails and stroller tips: Harpers Ferry with dogs and kids. Going on an evening ghost tour? NPS lots close 30 minutes after sunset; see Harpers Ferry ghost tours.
More planning help
- Plan your visit: hours, closures and the big picture
- Getting there and day trips from DC: driving, MARC, Amtrak and the C&O towpath
- Current conditions: river levels, weather and alerts
- Where to stay: staying in town lets you leave the car parked
